DTE Energy export application for Nanticoke power

Summary#

The Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator published a notice about an export application from DTE Energy Trading, Inc. (application dated 22 April 2022). The company asks to export up to 10 000 000 MWh per year for 10 years, using power from a new 68.2 MW steam turbine at Stelco’s Nanticoke, Ontario site; the CER is asking for public comments before it decides. Written comments were requested by 30 May 2022.

What it does#

• Asks for public views on an application by DTE Energy Trading, Inc. to export up to 10 000 000 MWh of combined firm and interruptible electricity annually for 10 years.
• Notes the power would come from a generation unit owned and operated by DTE Lake Erie Generation, Inc., located on Stelco’s property in Nanticoke, Ontario. The facility is expected to start commercial operation in June 2022.
• Explains the Commission of the Canada Energy Regulator will consider responses before issuing a permit or moving the application to a licensing process under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act.
• Provides practical steps and deadlines:
  • The applicant will share its filing on request (email available in the notice).
  • Interested parties were asked to file written submissions by 30 May 2022.
  • The applicant could file answers to those submissions by 14 June 2022.

Who's affected#

• The company and its subsidiary: DTE Energy Trading, Inc. and DTE Lake Erie Generation, Inc..
• Stelco, the host industrial site and its nearby directly connected industrial customer.
• Electricity buyers, sellers and traders who operate in Ontario and neighbouring provinces.
• Provincial governments and regulators, since the CER specifically asks about effects on provinces other than the exporting province.
• Local communities near the Nanticoke facility who may notice changes in local electricity flows or industrial operations.
• If unclear: the notice asks for input on who else might be affected, so the full list of affected parties could change based on submissions.

Why it matters#

• Large-scale electricity exports can influence the amount of power available for domestic use and could affect prices or competition in regional electricity markets.
• The power source is a new local generation unit at a steel plant. That links industrial energy use, local grid flows, and export plans in one project.
• The CER is asking specific questions about whether Canadian buyers were given fair notice and equal opportunity to buy the electricity. That relates to whether Canadian consumers and industries had a chance to secure supply before exports proceed.
• This is an application under review, not an approved export. The public comment process can shape the regulator’s decision.